Marching

Annah and Sylvia had the first marching band practice of the summer tonight, which meant that it was Sylvia's first marching band practice EVER!!!  They were both super excited to go, and even let me take their picture when I dropped them off [because no one else was in the parking lot to see at the time.]

Lots of daylillies are blooming in front of our house right now!

And more to come soon!

When I went back to school to pick the girls up, they were marching around the track, and at the end of practice Mr. M taught them how to do the monster stomp.

We've spent a fair amount of time in town this week for appointments and errands.  On Monday, we were excited to go to the library, but when we got there we realized the Teen Zone is doesn't even open until noon!  So, the girls wandered around like zombies. Caeden finally found some Star Wars books and got signed up for the Summer Reading Program.  Even though they read a lot, and there are great rewards and prizes, the girls don't want to participate.  Whatever.

We stopped in at Hobby Lobby quickly, and I bought Annah some painting supplies. Now she just needs some paint!

Caeden had an eye appointment on Monday, but his prescription didn't change. And we just replaced his frames for the second time under warranty, so he was easy.

Today, Annah had her appointment and also a contact lens fitting.  She had a little tougher time getting them in than Sylvia did, but I'm sure will catch on quickly when she doesn't have a stranger a foot from her face.

Father's Day Weekend

Around this place, we sure do love Dad! We were forbidden to buy him anything for Father's Day, so we just enjoyed time with him this weekend.  (We did get him some cards and some candy.)

Sylvia enjoys chatting with her dad while he grills.  She also enjoys making goofy faces when I try to take her picture--much like her dad often does.

 Jeremy grilled some smoked pork ribs, chili brats, and burgers yesterday.

Our friend Scott posted this picture of a restored Blazer on his Facebook yesterday, and I immediately recognized it as the kind of Blazer we used to have on the farm when I was kid.  It made me think of fishing with my dad.  Our Blazer had an 8-track player, and we would put the windows down and listen to music while we were fishing!  I must have been pretty little, but it's a good memory.

 This morning our friends Sierra and Savanna were at church!  They are here for a week or so to stay with their Grandma while their dad goes to Nazarene General Assembly in Indianapolis.  We've really missed them a lot since they moved to Texas, and were so happy to see them!

 After church, we went out to lunch at Monical's with the Mann family to celebrate the dads! We all love watching the kids interact.  Even though there's a decent age difference, they all love each other a lot.  Eryn and Meagan are such sweethearts!

And we always love spending time with Kevin and Regina!  

How thankful we are for Jeremy--this day and every day.  He is a great father, and we are so blessed to have him leading our family. 

I am also incredibly thankful for my dad.  He is a wonderful father, and now grandfather. 

I'm thankful for my father-in-law as well.  He grew up without his dad, and he showed Jeremy many ways to be a good dad. 

I am most thankful for our heavenly Father and His guidance in our lives!

3 kids on a couch

Sitting around on the couch is not really something our kids usually do all that much, but they have been enjoying the opportunity more than usual since school has been out.

Here they are watching a movie. They made stress balls with balloons and flour to keep in their hands while they watch tv.

They continue to take ridiculous pictures of each other.

Annah and Caeden are playing XBOX here while Sylvia reads. It's good to relax sometimes!

Sylvia and I spent the day having adventures in Bloomington. 

We went to the library!!! Several times, I have tried to take the kids to the Bloomington Library, but gps didn't take me to the right place, and I could find it from the directions on the library website! I seriously thought the place was in some kind of Bermuda Triangle!!! So this morning I looked on Google Maps and wrote down directions based one what a friend had told me about getting there from Arrowsmith.  And we got there!!!

Sylvia and I were both SO excited and totally "nerding out."

There is even a Teen Zone--an entire room of books for teens, video game systems, computers, a designated librarian, and lots of staff suggestions/reviews of books.  Pretty cool!

We found great books, cd's and dvd's of musicals, and I found the craft and crochet books section--which Sylvia dubbed "the saddest section of the library." We were careful not too laugh at some of the book titles so loudly as to disturb anyone. I did find 5 good crochet books to check out, so I guess I am sad too.

There are self-checkout stations all over the library, which we thought were pretty cool. I can foresee us becoming regulars at the library--although we still love the Bookmobile coming to Arrowsmith!

Sylvia had an eye appointment today.  AND a fitting for contacts!   

 Apparently, there is now a law that requires a contact lens Insertion and Removal "class" for any first-time contact wearers.  (Read: $80 more to take from our insurance benefits. Ugh.)  Anyway, David showed Sylvia how to put her contacts in and take them out, and how to take care of them. He was great.  

And Sylvia picked up on it right away.

 Who is this young lady?!  No more braces, no glasses...but as beautiful as ever!

  

We went to Meijer to get a few things--including sunglasses!  

It's really hot this week, so when we are home, we are pretty much hibernating in the living room with the air conditioner running.  I'm working on a fuzzy warm scarf for my friend Dawn for this winter.   

 Sylvia and I played a few rounds of Kings Corners this evening. 

It was such a fun day with my girl!

Oh! What a beautiful morning! I went with Sylvia to water our friend and neighbor's flowers before church this morning.  The girls are taking care of them while Tracie is out of town for the weekend. 

Today, Annah and Caeden left for a youth group trip.  They went to Jump America, a mall, and had supper at Giordano's.  Tomorrow they're going to 6 Flags Chicago. 

On our way out of town today, we stopped to see Great Grandma C!  We had a great chat with her!

When we arrived Aunt Arlene and Uncle Bob were visiting. We talked about the kids and grandkids and school and summer and the 'Busco school.  

When we told Grandma that Annah drove us here and was driving us home to Illinois, she told us how she never wanted to drive, but drove for 53 years because Grandpa needed her to.  She talked about having 13 people in a car one time! She told us about a time when Grandpa was driving a wagon full of corn and someone in front of them made a split second decision to turn and how Grandpa could've lost that whole wagon of corn all over the road!  She told us about a time when she and Grandpa had to get under some kind of farm equipment and lie in a bunch of mud to repair the thing.  She said, "That's what it is to be a farmer's wife!"

Arlene and Bob left, and soon after Uncle Butch showed up. Grandma talked about how much she liked staying at his house when he lived at Lemon Lake. She said she loved sleeping on the daybed on the porch, and she remembered 3 neighbor guys who were lots of fun. 

We had such a great visit with Grandma today, and I'm so thankful!!!

We stopped at Grandpa Lopshire's butcher shop to get some things Jeremy requested--burgers, brats, and lots of cheese.  It was great to talk with Grandpa and Uncle Eric too.

It was pretty hot out today, and Sylvia was a little too proud that she drank her whole water bottle before we got home.

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All day at Krampa's and Gram's

We hung out at Krampa and Gram's all day today and relaxed!

Yesterday at JoAnn's the girls bought cardboard letters and glitter. Today they had craft time decorating them in the sun!

There was swimming, of course!

I worked on Mom's shawl while watching the kids swim, then had to take out a few rows later because I'd been concentrating more on the kids than the crochet. 

These guys were WIPED OUT after all that swimming!!!

Annah and Mom made a rhubarb crisp for supper.  It went over pretty well, so I grabbed the recipe!

Annah got TOO MUCH sun today!!!

Mom and Sylvia got started on the dresses.

Caeden and Sylvia went for a night swim.